Plunger-packing for elevators.



J. U. PHELPS.

PLUNGER PACKING EOE ELEVATORS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.17, 1909.

Patented June 28, 1910.

[Ev VENTOR) A TTORNEYS.

. eaters Penn FFEQ JAMES C. PHELPS, F SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS. I

PLUNGER-PACKING FOR ELEVATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 28, 39MB.

Application filed September 17, 1909. Serial No. 518,165.

ings for Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in packings and is designed for use in connection with plunger elevators that are operated by hydraulic pressure, or for use in pistonrods of pum s, or steam engines. It is a well known act that during the operation of this class of elevators in which a very long plunger'is employed, a great .deal of vibration or swaying motion occurs in the plunger when the car is at the upper end of its run, causing the plunger to wear the packing and in time produce a leak.

The object of this invention therefore is p to provide a plunger packing that is selfsealing in all positions of the plunger, and one that will automatically provide for any wear that may ooour by the action of the plunger on the packing, due to wear or vibration. I

Broadly, the invention consists of a flexible ring member proper provided with a gasket portion that is adapted to be clam ed between the head or stuifing-box mem er which surrounds the plunger, and a clamping-ring for eflecting a tight joint at the outlet end of the stufing-box; the ring member proper being also provided with an inturned or flange portion for receiving a series of rings that bear against the plunger, and means for stiffening the flange portion,the stufiing-box or head member being made large enough to contain the packing-rings and permitting water to enter the back or outer portion of the ring member whereby water (pressure will force the rings inwardly towar the lunger, thus forming a water tight seal wiiich automatically adapts itself to all pressures during the upward and downward movements of the plunger.

In the drawings forming part of this application, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2, through the ring, illustrating the manner in which the box, and provision for water pressure in the rear part ofthe ring. Fig. 2 1s a view looking upward at the lower edge of the packing is secured in place in the stuffingring. Fig. 3 is a view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4 showing a slight modification of the ring. Fig. 4 is a view looking upward from below clearly illustrating the stiffening ring in this form. Fig. 5 is a view illustrating the means for drawing the rings together in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 7 illustrates a side elevation of the elastic means for normally drawing the rings toward the (plunger.

Referring to the drawings in etail, a designates the plunger, and Z) the stufiingbox or head member which is attached to the upper end of the pipe in the elevator well and through which the plunger runs.

a designates a recessed portion of the box for receiving the packing-ring and permitting water to enter the same through the opening e. The ring includes an annular gasket portion f that is adapted to be clamped between the box I; and the ring 7:. by means of the bolts shown at 2'. Integral with the gasket portion is a flexible depending ring member j of leather or other, suitable material having an *inturned lip or as the portion 7.

Attached to the ring member j is a suitable clasp or fastening device (similar to an ordinary glove fastener) for retaining or holding the adjacent ed es of the ring member 7' together, the a jacent edges be ng shown in dotted lines at 7' This fastenin device is shown in Fig. 5 and is designate by the letter 0 and is provided with slots 0 for permitting the member j to contract when wear occurs and be forced inward by the water pressure behind the ring.

In order to maintain the lip or flange it: in a rigid or stifiened condition, a seriesof stitches, shown at p, are employed, which v at g in Fig. 1. The --is to maintain the packing-ringm in a fixe,

or immovable position during the ,descent of extend a diagonal direction from the lower edge portion of the inturned flange In to the es of the ring member j, as shown the plunger, 'smce the frictional drag'of theplunger on these rings tends to draw the matically forces the rings m into contact for permitting t the plunger at all times.

n wi 'it. The water in the chambers auto:

with the plunger a, as there is space enough back of the ringl member 7', as shown at r,

and thus force the rings m inward toward Referrmg to the construction shown '1 in F1gs. 3, 4, 6, and 7 the flange and ring members in these figures are the same in construction 'as' the flan and ring members I f and j in Figs. 1, 2, an 5, and are, therefore designated by the same reference letters. The packing-rings that engage the 25 are-also of the same construction,

plunger ut' the loweredge I: of the members j is provided with a metal, ring a of brass or other suitable material that is riveted to the inturned portion In, as shown at t. The ends 1 of t 0 ring .9 are hooked together by means o f theelement shown at u which coincides with the lapped edge portions of vthe ,part 1', as indicated by the dottedline o. The gasket ortion fot the ring is provided with a bev ed joint, as shown at w, and is secured gether by ,means of the staple a: (see order'to normallyconstrict or draw thedependin ring portionv j toward the plunger, an e astic member 3 is employed which preferably consists of a rubber band which surroundsthe flexible depending ring portion j and its ends are held together by means of the link'z and the elongated eyelet members 2 which are secured in the ends .of the member y This band serves the pur- 1' pose of exertmg a hoop-tension on the ring flanged portion is of the ring 1' during the I downward movement of the p1 stated, the frictional drag of the p unger on the rings m has a tendenc to draw the rings downward with it, but uring the upward movement of the plunger the tendency is to carry the rings m upward a inst the clampmg-rmg h, which efiectuafi; revents any movement of the rings in this ection.

During both the upward and downward movements of the plunger, the water presject of this stitchi and the flange member is downward e water to enter this spacev 'seriesofrings sure that enters the chamber a automatically movesthe plunger-packing inward against the plunger.

It should be stated that the beveled joint w of the flanged portion is provided with a leather cement which makes a tight o1nt and at the same time permits the flange to I be opened should occasion require.

From the above descri tion, it will be seen the plunger in which e portion j 1s a flexiinvention consists ble receptacle for the rings m, and which is I adapted to yield by reason of the water pressure behind the same, permitting the rings m to be forced against the'plunger at all times.

What I claim, is:- 1. A packing ring member having a lower edgeof the rmg member bem g mturned, and a series of packmg rlngs mterosed between the gasket portion and the inturned portion of the ring member, and means for stiffening the inturned portlon of the ring vmember substantially as describe} cf 'ng f el to 1 2. a ring or eva r,p ungers comprisflg a ring member proper, said ring member being provided with a gasket por tion and an inturned portion, a series of packing located between the asket and inturne portion, means for ren ermg. the inturned e ge rig1d,'and means for constricting the r' member, whereby packing rings are force toward the plunger, substantially as described.

3. In a plun er packmg for elevator plungers, a series 0 rin for engaging the pluner, means for reta ning the serles of rings 1n place, and means for normally imparting a constrictin or hoo tensional stress to the for plungers comprising a gasket portion,

rings, where y a tig t joint is'efiected between the rings and the lunger.

4. In a plunger pacing, a is a box provided wlth a recessed portion, a pa .1 I ring having. a flange member adapted to be clamped-to the stuflin -box, and a depen ing portion entering located between the depending portion and the plunger, the recessed rtlon being of such dimenslons that hyd aulic presure may outer surface of the depend1ng rmg portion, and means for A dependportion, substantially as escnbed.

e recesed portion, a Y

beimpartedtothed 5. "A flexible receptacle for a v I series of acking rings, a plunger I ged by the'm ii said receptacle mch idfiig a gasket portion and an inturned edge portion, the rin being located on the edge portion, the exiblereceptacle m a for recei a liqmd under presure,- 1whe1eby the against the plunger, as described.

rmgsare forced beinglocated I meme 1 6. In a, filunger packing, a stifiening box to the 1' member, substantially as deprovided with an annular recessed portion, sor'itwe. v a flexible ring member located in the re- G P cessed portion and adaptedl to have hy&rau-

% lie pressure imparted. to its outer surface, Witnesses:

means for clamping the ring member to saifi K. I. GLEM0NS box, an& means for impartmg hoop tension H. W. Bo. 

